I'll Play the Blues for You

written by Jerry Beach;
first recorded by Geater Davis in 1969, but remained unreleased;
first released version by Albert King in 1972;

25 suggested versions:

Geater Davis

I'll Play the Blues for You (3:29)
Recorded in 1969, but it remained unreleased;

First released by Odds and Ends in 1975

on the 7" single "Geater Davis: I'll Play the Blues for You"

Also released by Westside in 1998

on the album "Geater Davis: Sadder Shades of Blue";

An alternate version was recorded and released by House of Orange in 1979 

on the 7" single "Geater Davis: I'll Play the Blues for You"

Geater Davis - vocals

unknown - guitars, keyboards, bass, drums

Guitar solo after the 1st & 2nd verses & at the end

Albert King
I'll Play the Blues for You (Parts I & II) (7:19)

Recorded in Memphis, TN, Spring 1972;

Originally released by Stax in 1972

on the album "Albert King: I'll Play the Blues for You"

Albert King - lead guitar, vocals

Michael Toles - rhythm guitar

Allen Jones - keyboards

James Alexander - bass

Willie Hall - drums

Andrew Love - sax

Wayne Jackson - trumpet

Sax solo in the mid by Andrew Love

Guitar solo after the last verse & at the end by Albert King

Keyboard solo after the last verse by Allen Jones 

Aron Burton

I Play the Blues for You (4:02)
Recorded live at Ma Bea's, Chicago, IL, November 8, 1976;

Originally released by Storyville in 1995

on the CD re-release of the album "John Littlejohn: Dream"

Writing credits are labeled to Albert King

Aron Burton - bass, vocals

John Littlejohn - guitars

Larry Burton - guitars

Candy Utah - drums

Guitar solo at the beginning by Larry Burton

Guitar solo in the mid & at the end by John Littlejohn

Albert King

When You Down (6:30)
Recorded live in Chicago, IL, October 1977;

Originally released by Tomato in 1989

on the album "Albert King/John Lee Hooker: I Will Play the Blues for You"

Albert King - guitars, vocals

unknown - guitars

James Washington - keyboards (prob. he didn't play on it)

Lonnie Turner - bass

Joe Turner - drums

Nate Fitzgerald - horns

Steve Wilson - horns

Wayne Preston - horns

1st & 3rd guitar solo after the last verse by Albert King

2nd guitar solo after the last verse by unknown

Melvin Taylor

I'll Play the Blues for You (5:17)
Recorded at Davout Studio, Paris, France, March 21, 1984;

Originally released by Isabel in 1984

on the album "Melvin Taylor: Plays the Blues for You"

Melvin Taylor - guitars, vocals

Lucky Peterson - organ

Titus Williams - bass

Ray Allison - drums

Guitar solo at the beginning, after the 1st & 2nd verses & at the end by Melvin Taylor

Sky High

I'll Play the Blues for You (4:06)
Recorded at Trollton Studio, Falun, Sweden, November 1984;

Originally released by Mega Rock in 1985

on the album: "Sky High: Freezin' Hot"

Clas Yngström - guitars, vocals

unknown - keyboards

Arne Blomqvist - bass

Marcus Källström - drums

Guitar solo at the beginning, in the mid & at the end by Clas Yngström

Low Budget Blues Band

I'll Play the Blues for You (4:07)
Recorded at Soundtrade Studios, Solna, Sweden, October 1990

Originally released by WEA in 1990

on the album "Low Budget Blues Band: Vol. II."

Mats Ronander - harmonica, vocals, (prob.) guitars

Lasse Wellander - guitars

Niklas Medin - piano

Hasse Olsson - organ

Nikke Ström - bass

Pelle Alsing - drums

Leif Lindvall - trumpet

Hans Dyvik - trumpet

Nils Landgren - trombone

David Wilczewski - tenor sax

Erik Häusler - baritone sax

Guitar solo after the 1st verse by Lasse Wellander or Mats Ronander

Harmonica solo after the 2nd verse by Mats Ronander

Frank Marino

I'll Play the Blues for You (5:25)
Recorded at Philo's Ranch and Coast Recorders, Los Angeles, CA,
& Starbase Studio, Quebec, Canada, (prob.) 1993;

Originally released by Blues Bureau in 1993

on the album "L. A. Blues Authority Vol. IV - Fit for A. King"

Frank Marino - lead guitar, vocals

Kevin Russell - rhythm guitar

Brad Russell - bass

Aynsley Dunbar - drums

Guitar solo in the mid & at the end by Frank Marino

Bryan Lee

I'll Play the Blues for You (8:16)
Recorded at Ultrasonic Studios, New Orleans, LA, (prob.) 1993;

Originally released by Justin Time in 1993

on the album "Bryan Lee: Memphis Bound"

Bryan Lee - guitars, vocals

Eugene Carrier - keyboards

Al Arthur - bass

Larry Williams - drums

Ward Smith - sax

Charles Espinosa - trumpet

Guitar solo after the last verse & at the end by Bryan Lee

Organ solo before the end section by Eugene Carrier

Michael Coleman

I Play the Blues for You (3:58)
Recorded at ACME Recording, Chicago, IL, March 1994;

Originally released by Wolf in 1994

on the album "Michael Coleman: Shake Your Booty"

Writing credits are labeled to Albert King

Michael Coleman - guitars, vocals

John Choeny - organ

Mike Sterling - bass

Donald Coleman - drums

Guitar solo in the mid & at the end by Michael Coleman

Jim Kahr

I'll Play the Blues for You (4:55)
Recorded live at Franz Club, Berlin, Germany, 1994;

Originally released by Acoustic Music in 1996

on the album: "Jim Kahr: Incredibly Live!"

Jim Kahr - guitars, vocals

Ron Sorin - harmonica

Boris Friedel - bass

Max Mury - drums

Harmonica solo in the mid by Ron Sorin

Guitar solo at the end by Jim Kahr

Corey Stevens

I'll Play the Blues (3:48)
Recorded at Sonora Recorders, Los Angeles, CA &

at Boulevard Sound, Hollywood, CA, (prob.) 1995;

Originally released by Eureka in 1995

on the album "Corey Stevens: Blue Drops of Rain"

Corey Stevens - guitars, vocals

Mike Finnigan - organ

Will McGregor - bass

Dave Salinas - drums

Andy Shmuckler - percussion

Guitar solo in the mid & at the end by Corey Stevens

Tino Gonzales

I'll Play the Blues for You (6:28)

Recorded live at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Syracuse, NY, August 18, 1996;

Originally released by Blue Wave in 1997

on the album "Tino Gonzales: A New Generation of the Blues"

Tino Gonzales - guitars, vocals

Howard Resnick - keyboards

Eric Arrington - bass

Butch Lasalle Walker - drums

Guitar solo at the beginning, after the last verse & at the end by Tino Gonzales

Keyboard solo in the mid by Howard Resnick

Jimi Prime Time Smith

I'll Play the Blues for You (8:15)

Recorded live at Blues Alley, Minneapolis, MN, May 29-30, 1998;

Originally released by Atomic Theory in 1998

on the album "Jimi Prime Time Smith: Give Me Wings"

Jimi Prime Time Smith - guitars, vocals

Michael Pendergast - organ

Mick Massof - bass

Donald Robertson - drums

Guitar solo at the beginning, after the last verse & at the end by Jimi Prime Time Smith

Organ solo in the mid by Michael Pendergast

Mel Brown

I'll Play the Blues for You (5:53)
Recorded live at Wally’s Pub, Guelph, Ontario, CAN, 1998;

Originally self-released in 1998

on the album "Mel Brown and the Homewreckers: Live at Wally's";

Re-released by Electro-Fi in 2001

on the album "Mel Brown and the Homewreckers: Homewreckin' Down Live"

Mel Brown - guitars, vocals

John Lee - keyboards

Al Richardson - bass

Jim Boudreau - drums

Keyboard solo in the mid by John Lee

Guitar solo at the end by Mel Brown

Aron Burton

I'll Play the Blues for You (4:32)
Recorded (prob.) in 1999;

Originally released by Delmark in 1999

on the album "Aron Burton: Good Blues to You"

Aron Burton - bass, vocals

Lurrie Bell - lead guitar

Larry Burton - guitars

Allen Batts - piano

Tino Cortez - drums

Guitar solo at the beginning & in the mid by Lurrie Bell

Daniel Castro

I'll Play the Blues for You (7:40)
Recorded at Parvin Studios, Pacifica, CA, 1999;

Self-released in 1999

on the album "Daniel Castro: No Surrender"

Daniel Castro - guitars, vocals

Lee Parvin - keyboards

P. Bertolucci - keyboards

K. Embrey - bass

J. Hanes - drums

Michael Peloquin - sax

Tom Poole - trumpet

Danny Armstrong - trombone

Guitar solo at the beginning, in the mid & at the end by Daniel Castro

Lurrie Bell

I'll Play the Blues for You (7:27)
Recorded at Soto Sound, Chicago, IL, 2000

Originally released by Vypyr in 2000

on the album "Lurrie Bell: Cuttin' Heads"

Lurrie Bell - lead guitar, vocals

Michael Coleman - rhythm guitar

Dave Rice - keyboards

Willie Samuels - bass

Reggie Wright - drums

Willie Henderson - sax

Hank Ford - sax

Kenny Anderson - trumpet

Guitar solo at the beginning, in the mid & at the end by Lurrie Bell

Eddie Vaan Shaw

I'll Play the Blues for You (7:14)
Recorded live at the Time Out Pub, Rockland, ME, May 21 or October 1, 2001;

Originally released by North Atlantic Blues in 2001

on the album "Eddie Shaw and the Wolfgang: Papa Told Me - Live"

Eddie Vaan Shaw - guitars, vocals

Eddie Shaw - sax

Lafayette Shorty Gilbert - bass

Tim Taylor - drums

Guitar solo at the beginning & after the 2nd verse by Eddie Vaan Shaw

Sax solo after the 1st verse by Eddie Shaw

Vance Kelly

I'll Play the Blues for You (4:24)
Recorded at CRC Music Studio, Chicago, IL, October 5-6, 2003;

Originally released by Wolf in 2005

on the album "Vance Kelly and the Backstreet Blues Band: Nobody Has the Power"

Vance Kelly - guitars, vocals

Edward Williams - sax

Melvin Robinson - keyboards

John Walls - keyboards

Mark Miller - bass

Charles Hancock - drums

Guitar solo at the beginning, in the mid & at the end by Vance Kelly

Ladell McLin

Play the Blues 4 U (3:31)
Recorded at Gigantic Studios, New York City, NY, (prob.) 2005;

Originally released by Gigantic Music in 2005

on the album "Ladell McLin: Stand Out"

Ladell McLin - guitars, vocals 

John Davis - bass

Swiss Chris - drums

Guitar solo in the mid & at the end by Ladell McLin

L.A. Jones

I'll Play the Blues for You (5:36)
Recorded at Holly Studios, Dolo, Venezia) Italy, July 2005;

Originally released by Barking Blues in 2007

on the album "L. A. Jones & the Blues Messengers: L.ittle A.lbert"

L. A. Jones - guitars, vocals

Loris de Checchi - organ

Gigi Todesca - bass

Vincenzo Barattin - drums

Max Negri - sax

Lilian Stoimenov - trumpet

Guitar solo in the mid & at the end by L. A. Jones

Gary Moore

I'll Play the Blues for You (6:03)
Recorded at Sarm West, London, UK, (prob.) 2006;

Originally released by Eagle Records in 2006

on the album "Gary Moore: Old New Ballads Blues"

Gary Moore - guitars, vocals

Don Airey - keyboards

Jonathan Noyce - bass

Darrin Mooney - drums

Guitar solo from the mid to the end by Gary Moore

Carlos Johnson

I'll Play the Blues for You (10:30)
Recorded live at B.L.U.E.S., Chicago, IL, June 29-30, 2006;

Originally released by P-Vine in 2007

on the album "Carlos Johnson: Live at B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted

Writing credits are labeled to Jerry Marlon

Carlos Johnson - guitars, vocals

Dave Rice - keyboards

Sam Green - bass

James Knowles - drums

Guitar solo at the beginning & after the last verse to the end by Carlos Johnson

Keyboard solos in the mid by Dave Rice

Joe Bonamassa

I'll Play the Blues for You (6:14)
Recorded live at the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, August 29, 2015;

Originally released by J&R Adventures (US) & Provogue (EU) in 2016

on the album "Joe Bonamassa: Live at the Greek Theatre"

Joe Bonamassa - guitars, vocals

Kirk Fletcher - guitars

Reese Wynans - organ

Michael Rhodes - bass

Anton Fig - drums

Lee Thornburg - trumpet

Paulie Cerra - sax

Nick Lane - trombone

Mahalia Barnes, Jade MacRae, Juanita Tippins - background vocals

Guitar solo after the 1st & 2nd verses & at the end by Joe Bonamassa

Organ solo after the 2nd verse by Reese Wynans

Guitar solo before the 3rd verse by Kirk Fletcher